Statue of Matthias Corvinus, Cluj-Napoca, Guide du visiteur et quoi faire à proximité

The Statue of Matthias Corvinus is a bronze equestrian monument in Piața Unirii, the central square of Cluj-Napoca, Romania. It honours Matthias Corvinus, the Renaissance king of Hungary who was born in this city, and it stands in front of St. Michael's Church. It is the best-known meeting point in the city and a good way into its layered history.

The story behind it

Matthias Corvinus ruled Hungary from 1458 to 1490 and was born in Cluj, then known as Kolozsvár. The monument was made by the sculptor János Fadrusz and unveiled in 1902. It shows the king on horseback, with four of his commanders on the base around him: Blasius Magyar, Pavel Chinezu, Stephen Zápolya and Stephen Báthory.

After the union of Transylvania with Romania in 1918, the statue was read by some as a symbol of Hungarian nationalism. The historian Nicolae Iorga is remembered for proposing a trilingual plaque that recalled the king's family roots on the Romanian side. That plaque was later removed under the communist regime, and a replica was put back in 1992. The square around it has carried several names over time, and the current one, Piața Unirii, refers to the 1918 union. Excavations in the area have also brought to light remains of the Roman city of Napoca. Local people still arrange to meet "at the horse's tail", behind the statue.

What to look for

• The king sits on his horse at the top of the monument, and the four commanders gather on the base below him, so walk all the way around to see each figure.
• Look for the trilingual plaque, which recalls the debate over the king's origins and the statue's meaning after 1918.
• Stand beside the monument and look at the Gothic façade and tall spire of St. Michael's Church right behind it.
• Notice how wide the square is, with buildings from many periods around it, and ask yourself why it has served as the centre of Cluj for so long.

Tips for your visit

• The statue stands in an open square, so you can see it any time at no cost. Ten to fifteen minutes is enough for the monument itself.
• Early morning is quietest for photographs, and evening is lively when locals gather around the square.
• St. Michael's Church is right next to the statue. Check current opening hours if you want to go inside.
• Cafés, shops and the old town streets begin at the edge of the square, so it works well as the start of a longer walk.

See it on a quest

Medieval Cluj: King Matia's Secret Treasure reaches the statue on foot as one stop on a longer route through the medieval centre. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle in what is in front of you. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.

Walking with Iuliu Hossu in Cluj-Napoca takes you through the city streets, with the statue as one stop along the way. You hear about each place as you get there and solve a puzzle on the spot. It is free to play.

The Lost Gold of Cluj-Napoca passes the monument as part of a walk around the city centre. At each stop the app tells you the story of the place and gives you a puzzle to solve. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.